May 10 Power Rankings
Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 11:16 pm
This was my first stab at these this year...nothing fancy here, I'm afraid; I didn't think y'all would appreciate me comparing each team to a different sophist from 5th Century Greece.
And away we go...
1. Toronto Blue Jays ñ Previous: 5
Now that was a hot streak (9-1) that put the Blue Jays in a formidable position in the AL Beast...for the time being.
2. Cincinnati Reds ñ Previous: 2
The Big Red Machine redux? Nate's High-octane offense would cost him big time at the pumps nowadays--will the ayment come through the customary Nate luck? At any rate, he's an IBC-best 15-5 away from home.
3. Baltimore Orioles ñ Previous: 3
The dark horse of the Beast continues to surprise people--they could very well be for real.
4. Minnesota Twins ñ Previous: 14
The pitching is finally clicking, as only one AL team has allowed less runs.
5. St. Louis Cardinals ñ Previous: 6
The defending champs would be in a good position in any other NL division, but Nate has had his way thus far...
6. Kansas City Royals ñ Previous: 14
Chipper Jones power! Goodness, the last old fogey we saw hit like he has was our favorite roider, Mr. Bonds. Now I'm not going to point fingers but, hmmm...
7. Oakland Athletics ñ Previous: 21
Jake's finally begun to assert himself in a surprisingly tight division with his team that's been riding its pitching/defense to the lead
8. New York Yankees ñ Previous: 1
Oh how the mighty have fallen. JB might have the best team in the league, talent-wise, but it has severely underperformed in the last few weeks.
9. Florida Marlins ñ Previous: 13
These guys are the real thing in a close-packed NL East battle. Vacek must be thanking Zeus for the chance to move south.
10. San Francisco Giants ñ Previous: 11
One of the more inept offensive squads, Nils' boy have gotten it done with the glove, leading the IBC in fielding.
11. Pittsburgh Pirates ñ Previous: 19
Could this be the year that JP finally stops (re)building? Too bad he's in the tough NL Central, as his Lincecum-led staff is among the best in the business.
12. San Diego Padres ñ Previous: 20
At a +18 run differential, the Padres have been underperforming; expect that to change.
13. New York Mets ñ Previous: 18
Another surprise squad of 2008, the unheralded Mets sit just half a game out of first in the NL East
14. Detroit Tigers ñ Previous: 9
They will bring the pain with the long bomb..and then give it back because of a M*A*S*H unit pitching squad
15. Washington Nationals ñ Previous: 24
Pitching rules the day, and Ken's squad has it in spades, leading the IBC by .10 in the ERA battle. Can they sustain?
16. Chicago Cubs ñ Previous: 22
Sorry Gabe, I'm using capitalization here. In any other NL division, the 2006 champs would be a threat, but not in the NL Central.
17. Philadelphia Phillies ñ Previous: 7
I have no idea how they are 2 games above .500 when being outscored by 41 ones. No Idea.
18. Seattle Mariners ñ Previous: 10
The M's picked a bad time to skid, as they've taken a tumble in the rankings. Still, in the AL West, things are still primed for a comeback--if they can keep up the pitching that they've shown.
19. Arizona Diamondbacks ñ Previous: 15
If the Dbacks have any chances of making the playoffs this year, they've got to button down that pitching staff--allowing 221 runs (among the league worse) does not bring portents of good fortune
20. Boston Red Sox ñ Previous: 8
Bren comes back and they Red Sox go back to under performing. Retire again! 10.5 games out is not insurmountable at this point in the season, but it'll be damn hard in the AL Beast--especially sans Pat Neshek.
21. Cleveland Indians ñ Previous: 12
After sweeping the Yankees, the poor Indians ran into the buzzsaw known as Toronto.
22. Colorado Rockies ñ Previous: 25
For the life of me, I cannot figure out quite what John's plan in the mile-high air is--he's playing for this year, but it might be better-advised to play for next. Though it is the NL West...
23. Los Angeles Dodgers ñ Previous: 17
The tailspin continues. The worst offense ( .240/.308/.369) in the league need help, STAT.
24. Milwaukee Brewers ñ Previous: 26
As the team with the second-worst offense AND pitching, I have no idea how the Brew Crew is only 6 games under .500.
25. Atlanta Braves ñ Previous: 16
The preseason #4 has continued to fall, thanks to a DL-prone pitching staff and no Hiram Bocachica
26. Anaheim Angels ñ Previous: 29
They are not as bad as their 14-24 record suggests...and they're only 6 games out of first in the AL West. Though I wouldn't put any money on their chances. If I had money to bet, at any rate.
27. Texas Rangers ñ Previous: 27
Now these guys are probably worse than their 15-3 record. Sorry.
28. Chicago White Sox ñ Previous: 23
Middle-of-the-pack on the mound and at the plate, the team is cursed to the cellar of the AL Central.
29. Houston Astros ñ Previous: 28
When the Astros play the Rays in June, JP had better put that as a marquee matchup. The first pick of the draft is at stake!
30. Tampa Bay Rays ñ Previous: 30
Thanks for coming, boys, but no improvement will happen until y'all's pitchers stop tossing batting practice (5.47 ERA)
Comment away!
And away we go...
1. Toronto Blue Jays ñ Previous: 5
Now that was a hot streak (9-1) that put the Blue Jays in a formidable position in the AL Beast...for the time being.
2. Cincinnati Reds ñ Previous: 2
The Big Red Machine redux? Nate's High-octane offense would cost him big time at the pumps nowadays--will the ayment come through the customary Nate luck? At any rate, he's an IBC-best 15-5 away from home.
3. Baltimore Orioles ñ Previous: 3
The dark horse of the Beast continues to surprise people--they could very well be for real.
4. Minnesota Twins ñ Previous: 14
The pitching is finally clicking, as only one AL team has allowed less runs.
5. St. Louis Cardinals ñ Previous: 6
The defending champs would be in a good position in any other NL division, but Nate has had his way thus far...
6. Kansas City Royals ñ Previous: 14
Chipper Jones power! Goodness, the last old fogey we saw hit like he has was our favorite roider, Mr. Bonds. Now I'm not going to point fingers but, hmmm...
7. Oakland Athletics ñ Previous: 21
Jake's finally begun to assert himself in a surprisingly tight division with his team that's been riding its pitching/defense to the lead
8. New York Yankees ñ Previous: 1
Oh how the mighty have fallen. JB might have the best team in the league, talent-wise, but it has severely underperformed in the last few weeks.
9. Florida Marlins ñ Previous: 13
These guys are the real thing in a close-packed NL East battle. Vacek must be thanking Zeus for the chance to move south.
10. San Francisco Giants ñ Previous: 11
One of the more inept offensive squads, Nils' boy have gotten it done with the glove, leading the IBC in fielding.
11. Pittsburgh Pirates ñ Previous: 19
Could this be the year that JP finally stops (re)building? Too bad he's in the tough NL Central, as his Lincecum-led staff is among the best in the business.
12. San Diego Padres ñ Previous: 20
At a +18 run differential, the Padres have been underperforming; expect that to change.
13. New York Mets ñ Previous: 18
Another surprise squad of 2008, the unheralded Mets sit just half a game out of first in the NL East
14. Detroit Tigers ñ Previous: 9
They will bring the pain with the long bomb..and then give it back because of a M*A*S*H unit pitching squad
15. Washington Nationals ñ Previous: 24
Pitching rules the day, and Ken's squad has it in spades, leading the IBC by .10 in the ERA battle. Can they sustain?
16. Chicago Cubs ñ Previous: 22
Sorry Gabe, I'm using capitalization here. In any other NL division, the 2006 champs would be a threat, but not in the NL Central.
17. Philadelphia Phillies ñ Previous: 7
I have no idea how they are 2 games above .500 when being outscored by 41 ones. No Idea.
18. Seattle Mariners ñ Previous: 10
The M's picked a bad time to skid, as they've taken a tumble in the rankings. Still, in the AL West, things are still primed for a comeback--if they can keep up the pitching that they've shown.
19. Arizona Diamondbacks ñ Previous: 15
If the Dbacks have any chances of making the playoffs this year, they've got to button down that pitching staff--allowing 221 runs (among the league worse) does not bring portents of good fortune
20. Boston Red Sox ñ Previous: 8
Bren comes back and they Red Sox go back to under performing. Retire again! 10.5 games out is not insurmountable at this point in the season, but it'll be damn hard in the AL Beast--especially sans Pat Neshek.
21. Cleveland Indians ñ Previous: 12
After sweeping the Yankees, the poor Indians ran into the buzzsaw known as Toronto.
22. Colorado Rockies ñ Previous: 25
For the life of me, I cannot figure out quite what John's plan in the mile-high air is--he's playing for this year, but it might be better-advised to play for next. Though it is the NL West...
23. Los Angeles Dodgers ñ Previous: 17
The tailspin continues. The worst offense ( .240/.308/.369) in the league need help, STAT.
24. Milwaukee Brewers ñ Previous: 26
As the team with the second-worst offense AND pitching, I have no idea how the Brew Crew is only 6 games under .500.
25. Atlanta Braves ñ Previous: 16
The preseason #4 has continued to fall, thanks to a DL-prone pitching staff and no Hiram Bocachica
26. Anaheim Angels ñ Previous: 29
They are not as bad as their 14-24 record suggests...and they're only 6 games out of first in the AL West. Though I wouldn't put any money on their chances. If I had money to bet, at any rate.
27. Texas Rangers ñ Previous: 27
Now these guys are probably worse than their 15-3 record. Sorry.
28. Chicago White Sox ñ Previous: 23
Middle-of-the-pack on the mound and at the plate, the team is cursed to the cellar of the AL Central.
29. Houston Astros ñ Previous: 28
When the Astros play the Rays in June, JP had better put that as a marquee matchup. The first pick of the draft is at stake!
30. Tampa Bay Rays ñ Previous: 30
Thanks for coming, boys, but no improvement will happen until y'all's pitchers stop tossing batting practice (5.47 ERA)
Comment away!
